The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1887-04-27

muscle on the alert for action.
Three shrill, sharp notes fell on the
still air With the last the peasant
dashed off at full speed.
AS if stayed by some unseen force,
there was an instants hesitation on
the part of the young lord; then he
leaped forward, and was almost at once
abreast of his rival.
Konrad's eyes were fixed on the king.
/" Art thou crazed?" said a voice at
his side. % Be off, if thy feet are not
stoner"
The youth moved not
d" can make it' he spoke, under
his breath.
But there was no signal.
The suspense became an agony.
Konrad seemed scarcely to breathe.
Cheeks and brow were alike colorless.
" can still make it! :" he muttered,
between his teeth.
Yet the king turned not toward him.
The air rang with bravoes. Still the
kings eyes kept pace with the swiftly
moving forms.
81 cannot make It'll 1t is lost
groaned Konrad, though no sound
issued from his white lips. "The king
has forgotten mel" was his anguished
thought.
What aileth the lad?" said a voice
behind him.
/" He is fool" was the answer.
" Metbinks he has gone clean mad"
commented a third.
The first speaker seized his arm
roughly. Men and boys jeered at him;
women looked on with compassion;
little children stared curiously into his
face. If Konrad heard or saw, he made
no sign.
@ 1t is over!" he thought, in bitter
ness of spirit 81 may now go back to
my mother and Lystoniield. l have
done as she babe me. | have per-
formed my duty, but at what a cost!
Only to lose kingdom through him
whom of all others l desired to serve"
AT the thought of his mother he
seemed to feel again her soft hand
upon his head, to hear her voice sound
ing in his ears: g Do right, and fear
naught; and if thou dost not gain the
princedom of Avonia, remember thou
hast still mothers love-"
The recollection of these words
quelled the fierce tumult within his
breast. The color came back to his
cheeks; the wildness went out from his
eyes; his breath grew slow and steady.
He was himself again.
A shout arose from the multitude.
The runners had reached the goal at
exactly the same instant. 1t was pro-
claimed to be a tie. There was a stir
among the people. Men and women
looked disappointedly at one another.
There was a movement in the grand
pavilion. Messengers summoned Kon-
rad and his two companions before the
king.
His majesty addressed first the peas
ant.
"Why didst thou run when 1 babe
thee to wait ?'
ooh, sire" answered Basil, my
heart was so set on the race to which
thou hadst hidden me that for the in
slant / forgot the word of thy messen-
ger. When l recollected, Lord Rupert
was already at my side, and l reasoned
that it could make but little difference
at the best, as thou wouldst doubtless
have given me the signal a moment
later, so kept on
4" A most natural proceeding: and
thou didst run well,' said the king.
Whereupon Basil looked pleased and
tossed his head with a sef-satisfed air.
And why didst thou run when |
babe thee to wait ?' asked the king,
adore ,sing Lord Rupert.
j intended to obey thy maiesty's
command was the reply, but, seeing
my comrade start, reasoned that there
must be some mistake, believing that
thou wouldst not have hidden one to
run alone. Therefore l ran"
"a most natural course of conduct, y
said the king; land thou also didst
run we'll"
AT this the young lord looked pity
ingly upon Konrad. who stood aside
with quiet face and with eyes that
showed no fear.
Then spoke the king, Why didst
, thou not run with thy companions ?"
''Sire, because thou badest me to
wait" replied Konrad.
L" But why, supposest thou, should
bid thee to hold myself in readiness fol
a race which thou vert not to run?"
- Sire. | know not; only know that
thou didst command me to wait, and l
waited"
But hadst thou no powers of reas-
soning 2"
"Oh. sire, | could not understand
thy silence, and when l saw that all
chance of my winning the race was
lost my brain whirled and my spirit
was overwhelmed with agony. Then /
thought of my mother and of her words,
and the remembrance brought me
peace"
What were thy mothers words ?'
Konrad repeated that portion of his
mothers counsel which had so COM
forted him.
The king made no comment, but,
after brief pause, he resumed, with the
inquiry. d" Was it not hard matter to
keep thy feet from following thy COM
rades %
9 Hard indeed, sire; but from baby
hood my mother has taught me to yield
to her desires without questioning, and
my feet are accustomed to obey my
will"
Then said the king: "Well hast
thou spoken, Konrad of Lystonfeld
: Truly thou art the wise son of wise
mother. and worthy of the high honors
awaiting thee. To run is easy, but to
wait is hard. l knew that thou couldst
run; / did not know that thou couldst
wait. Right nobly hast thou stood the
final foot Ernn, thic bour thnu a ri N, u